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transport, Page 2

The infamous Marcos era from 1966 to 1986, including the 14 years of fascist dictatorship, saw the further worsening of semi-colonial and semi-feudal system despite superficial indicators of economic growth. Viewed as factors for changes in the transportation system, the overall trends established in the past period continued. These include a fast-growing population and chaotic urbanization, the dominance of export-oriented production amid the exhaustion of frontiers, deepening semi-feudalism, and rural stagnation devoid of real industrialization.

The early post-World War II or pre-Marcos period (1946-1965) saw basically the continuation and intensification of the semi-feudal socioeconomic system in the whole country, under the neocolonial setup and the acceleration of “growth trends” (actually the seeds of crises) that emerged before the war. In this section, we focus more specifically on the impacts of urbanization as seen in Metro Manila, and the impacts of the nationwide expansion of roads and motor vehicles.

The bigger and more dramatic push was in building railways. In 1875, the Spanish government authorized a Manila committee to propose railways projects. Three lines were suggested, totaling 1,730 km of track: the Manila-Dagupan line (which was to be extended later to Laoag); the Manila-Bicol line, which would reach Albay; and the Manila-Batangas route that would reach Taal town.

BAGUIO CITY — The proposed PUV modernization plan of the Duterte government has been widely denounced by jeepney drivers and operators nationwide. This has been marked by a two-day transport strike in Metro Manila and other cities.

BAGUIO CITY — Drivers and commuters alike are worried about a possible fare hike due to the government’s transport modernization plan that would result to the phase out of majority of public utility jeepneys.

Here we trace a brief history of Philippine transportation especially with the country’s entry into world commerce in the 19th and 20th century, and offer some insights about the patterns of growth of our transport system in the broader context of developing Philippine society and economy.

Why would the Filipino’s very own King of the Road take to the streets? Last week the militant organization of public utility vehicles (PUVs) declared a nationwide strike against the recently revised government proposal for transport modernization.

BAGUIO CITY — “Yes to rehabilitation, No to fake modernization!” clamored by the Baguio-Benguet jeepney drivers and operators as they marched from the Convention Center to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) office, last July 17, in support to the nationally coordinated action against the government’s modernization program of public utility jeepneys (PUJ).